Forgive My Fins [Paperback]

If you are looking for something new, fresh and beautifully written then this is the book for you.

Forgive my Fins is the first book in the new Fins series by author Tera Lynn Childs and I have to say - it was FANATASTIC :)

Lily is a princess mermaid and has been living with her aunt in Seaview for the past 3 years. She moved in with her aunt after discovering that her mother was human and wanted to see the human world before becoming the next ruler of Thalassinia. Lily has been in love with Brody, a boy from school ever since she started there, but the only problem is, she can't seem to find a way to tell Brody how she feels.

When Quince, Lily's annoying neighbour who always picks on her, offers to help her catch the guy of her dreams, she reluctantly agrees. On the night of the school dance, Lily's plan of action is in place and while waiting for Brody, she mistakingly kisses Quince and ends up forming a bond caused by Lily's mermaid destiny. Lily believes being bound to Quince is the worse thing possible or is it?

This was my first book by Tera and I was not left disappointd. As usual, I wish I had picked this up sooner than I did. I have read a few mermaid stories over the past year but, this is the only one I have loved. Tera did a fantastic job as it was beautifully written and I loved how I could imagine myself in Thalassinia.

I really enjoyed the characters especially Lily. Lily only being seventeen is quiet naive about her feelings toward Brody and it sometimes clouds her judgement, not only does she not see Brody for who he really is, but see also doesn't see Quince. Quince is a classic guy, picks on the girl he loves type but once you get to know him, it was just his way of getting closer to Lily and I loved both of them.

I'm so glad there wasn't any major cliffhangers to this story. Yes, the author has left the story open with a little preview of what I believe the next story will be about but I love that the Lily & Quince's story was rounded up.

Overall, this was a fanstatic new start to a unquie series. I'm hoping the release of the next book comes around quickly as I can not wait to read more :)

P.S I LOVED the fish slang too - So funny :)

Forgive My Fins appeals strongly to my giggly inner teen. Fresh, romantic and magical, Terra Lynn Childs' third novel is one to love!

Essentially, Forgive my Fins is about Lily's attempts at correcting her accidental 'marriage' with Quince, the next-door neighbour who just happens to be the one person who can worm his way beneath her fins and irritate her. An unexpected kiss between these two bond them together as mermates and between that and Lily's undying, three-year affection for Brody, they spell trouble with a capital T.

Lily is a loveable character. Bubbly and charming, she has an authentic feel to her voice. Her use of sea metaphors and references (for instance 'son of swordfish') saturates her narrative, is incredibly funny and is critical to that 'mermaid feel' in her voice. The author's use of a first person narrative gives a sense of direct communication between Lily and the readers so every bit of her mermaid lore and terminologies act much like an introduction to a riveting mer kingdom I could not have enough of! Thalassinia comes to life in Lily's vivid descriptions and immersing one's self in mermaid lore is an engaging side effect of reading Forgive My Fins. The author has crafted a very authentic, very magical underwater world in this book!

Quince is a darling. Obnoxious, slightly irritating but overbearingly sweet, he is simply character to adore. I could not help but root for him throughout the book. Quince and Lily's love-hate relationship is such a classic, but it's clear from the beginning that there is more to it that just teasing. In the same light, as the plot progresses, readers learn more about Quince, and he begins to be a character with depth. Despite their classic relationship, the originality of the plot offsets this. You'll not only lose yourself in Quince and Lily's banters but also in their underwater adventures!

I love every Quince-Lily moment - innocent, sweet and full of witty exchanges, I just could not help but giggle. I was so giddy with these two! I had so much fun to watch the conflict between Lily's strengthening bond with Quince and her feelings for Brody, not to mention the reluctance of her father to grant them the separation. Best of all, it was interesting to note the changes in her feelings and the growth that she undergoes throughout the novel.

What makes Forgive My Fins such a delightful read is not limited to her attempts at having the bonds severed, but what occurs between the lines at her every attempt. Quince's constant presence in her life - now even more pronounced because of the bond - forces her out of shell. Lily learns to appreciate beyond the superficial and gain her much needed courage.

There is little I didn't like in this novel. There is the lack of characterisation with the foils, for one. Believe me, I love all the characters, but they only slightly developed. They were not very relevant to the plot, but still. I felt like I know Aunt Rachel's cat more than Aunt Rachel, and that is slightly worrying. Nothing much else, I have yet to resurface from Thalassinia magical hold on me!

With a charming array of characters, a magical underwater kingdom to feel at home in, and a sweet romance in the whole midst of it, what better book to immerse your summer with than Forgive My Fins?

Lily has a secret; she's a mermaid living on land due to the fact that her mother was human. Her father is king of the seas, which makes her a Thalassinian Princess. Since finding out about her mother's lineage, Lily began to understand why she doesn't feel at home in the sea. She moved in with her aunt and started attending Seaview High School in order to find the perfect mate.

She's convinced she's found him. All she has to do is persuade him that she's the only girl for him.

She better do it fast, because mermaids mate for life at a very early age. When she comes up with a plan to share her secret and the rest of her life with him, her uber-annoying neighbor foils everything.

Now, she's forced to return home to Daddy and straighten out this huge mess, all because she kissed the wrong boy. Can she still convince her true love of her affections and hope that he returns them before her birthday?

This mermaid story is amazing with its romantic tension, clever, snarky dialogue, secrets, and an underwater world. All of this adds up to a magical tale written by one of my favorite authors.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel